Join Us in July – Free Online Pop-in-Chat!
This year, for Toy Libraries Australia’s “Join Us in July” campaign, Cubby House Toy Library is doing something a little different.
We are inviting families, community members, local leaders, educators, allied health professionals and potential volunteers to join us online for a lunchtime Pop-in-Chat and virtual tour.
Book Here: https://www.trybooking.com/
Join Us in July
This is an opportunity to
– recognise the important contribution toy libraries make to local communities and
– share how Cubby House Toy Library is continuing to grow as an inclusive, accessible and welcoming service for children, families and volunteers.
Cubby House Toy Library has supported families in northern Sydney for more than 45 years by helping children access quality toys for play, learning and development.
Families can borrow from our Forestville toy collection. They can also use Click and Collect services at Manly, Mona Vale, North Sydney and St Ives. This makes it easier for families to access toys without needing to travel to Forestville or particularly helpful when they find browsing for toys challenging because of time, transport or family constraints.
Cubby House Toy Library – supporting Diversity and Inclusion
Recent funding and support has helped us strengthen the way we support volunteers and build a more diverse and inclusive volunteer team. This matters because it’s the volunteers who make borrowing from the toy library possible. They welcome families, check and clean toys, pack Click and Collect orders, support borrowing and returns, and help keep the library organised, safe and inviting.
This work through Toy Library Australia’s Diversity and Inclusion grant * and then Dee Why RSL’s Club Grant “Increasing Diversity in Volunteering at the Cubby House Toy Library furthering inclusion of volunteers with a disability” has enabled us to create universally accessible and useable orientation and daily routine guidelines for members and volunteers at the library. Clearer visual and pictorial resources, plain English instructions, training videos and orientation supports the volunteers, including volunteers with disability and their support workers, so they can participate with confidence and independence.
Funding has also given us the capacity to introduce the
– Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program,
– visual supports for children and families,
– assisted borrowing sessions,
– quiet times and
– information resources
to help families understand how to use the toy library and how toys can support their child’s play, learning and development.
Free Online Pop-in Session
As part of Join Us in July, we will be holding a free online Pop-in-Chat session on Wednesday 29 July from 12.00 pm to 12.45 pm. Come along to hear more about borrowing, Click and Collect, our new inclusion resources, assisted borrowing sessions and the ways Cubby House Toy Library is supporting children of all abilities to play, learn and belong.
Who should join in?
– Parents and carers who have not used the toy library before
– Current members who want to see what is available
– Allied health professionals
– Early childhood educators
– School staff
– Community members
– Local businesses and
– Anyone interested in volunteering or supporting inclusive play opportunities for local children
Join us in July and help us celebrate the role toy libraries play in saving families money, reducing waste, supporting children’s learning and building stronger, more connected communities.
*Australian Government’s Strong and Resilient Communities Grant Program